Attaching machine



y 1936. w. o. HANSEN ET AL 2,048,930

ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY y 28-, 1936. w. o. HANSEN ET AL 2,048,930

ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WILL/67M o. H 9 V56 V MeEz/A/ L. BOWEN BY ZM 6% ATTORNEY July 28, 1936. w o HANSEN ET AL 2,048,930

ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1954 i 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 7 W/lL/HM O. HEM/56 V .ATTORNEY July 28, 1936. w. o. HANSEN ET AL. 2,043,930

ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY July 28, w Q HANSEN ET AL ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 f7 12 aw 8% ATTOR N EY Jul 28, 1936. w. o. HANSEN ET AL ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1934 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS n/mz/xy/w 0. 6 94/65 yway v .4. aowe/v QM a 9W ATTORNEY July 28, 1936. w H EN ET AL 2,048,930

ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR5 W/L/HM o. HEM/667V BYMfRc/A/ 4. Eon/5M ATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1936 entree stares scram FAT NT @FFEQE 2,048,930 ATTACHING MACHINE Application March 14, 1934, Serial No. 715,480

17 Claims.

This invention relates to button attaching machines and the like which involve high speed op eration, and among other objects it coordinates and simplifies the mechanism for delivering but tons and fasteners to attaching position thereby to secure greater reliability in operation at high speed and to increase the facility with which the apparatus can be used.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to one illustrative apparatus embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates elements delivered and atl5 tached by the illustrative machine, such elements being here shown in section and attached to fab-- ric or the like;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a so-called rivet cap attached by a fastener and showing the bar about which the prongs of the fastener are bent;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fastener side of the machine;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the button or cap side of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the machine on a somewhat larger scale than employed for Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximately on the central plane 6-55 of. Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken on the plane il' of Fig. 6

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the attaching dies (during the attaching operation) showing their relation to the button or cap delivery andorient- .l; ing mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a similar View of the orienting mecha nism in position to advance a button to the attaching dies;

Fig. 10 is a section of the delivery and orienting 40 mechanism taken on the plane iiiifi of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a similar view illustrating the action of the orienting mechanism when a button is in a different rotative position;

Fig. 12 is a detail section taken on the plane 45 12-!2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the orienting mechanism and associated structure designed for orienting and delivery of a button having a conventional shank;

50 Fig. 14 is an elevation of the fastener feedin mechanism in the act of placing a fastener in attaching position;

Fig. 15 is a similar view at a later-stage of operation showing the withdrawal of the placingde- .55 vice;

- mechanism taken on the plane l8-I8 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a transverse section taken on the plane l9!9 of Fig. 16 showing the relation of fastener raceway, fastener releasing device and fastener guideway; and 15 Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the fastener releasing element.

Attaching apparatus of the type herein illustrated as one embodiment of the invention is characterized by the delivery at high speed (i. e. 20 in rapid succession) of a fastener and button (the term button being here used for convenience to designate the element attached by the fastener and to include the rivet cap herein shown) to an attaching point and the orientation of one or 5 both at some stage between the points of supply and attachment so that one or both will occupy a predetermined relative position at the attaching point. To facilitate the task of the operator the attaching point should be sufficiently removed 0 or isolated from the bulk of the apparatus to enable the operator freely and easily to manipulate a garment or the like without interference from other parts of the machine.

In the present instance the fastener ID is a headed, double pronged affair and the button is .representedby a rivet cap H enclosing a transverse bar l2 which the prongs is of the fastener are adapted to straddle and about which they are bent or upset on attachment (Fig. 1). Conventional buttons l 4 like those shown for example in Fig. 13 have a transverse bar for the same purpose at the end of the conventional button shank, and are attached in a similar manner. The fastener and cap herein shown (see Fig. 1) may advantageously be employed as a rivet to reinforce garments such as overalls at points of unusual strain although obviously they are not confined to this use. In the present instance both the fastener and'the button must be located at the attaching point in a predetermined relative position so that the prongs of the fastener may straddle or curl about the bar from opposite sides.

As will presently appear, the design of the mechanism for performing the foregoing functions is influenced by the necessity for reliable operation at high speed, by the location of the attaching position at a point remote from the points of supply, and by the: arrangement of parts which allows the operator greater freedom from interference by the accessory portions of the machine.

The attaching point or position above referred to is determined by lower and upper dies i5 and i6 which bring the fastener and button respectively together on opposite sides of an intervening garment or the like, force the fastener prongs through the garment, and upset the same inside the button. In the case of the rivet cap shown having only a thin concave sheet metal covering opposite the fastener prongs, the upper die is preferably shaped to support the thin sheet metal to prevent penetration by the fastener prongs as they are curled around the bar.

Associated with the upper die it is a holder I! (Fig. 6) having a pair of pivoted jaws 18 adapted resiliently to engage the rim of a button and carry the same downward against the cloth. The details of the holder H and its operation in connection with the reciprocating upper die are described in co-pending Clark application Serial No. 62 6,435 and need not be repeated here. It will be sufficient in this connection'to note that upon completion of the attachingoperation the button is forced out of the holder jaws by the continued downward movement of the upper die 16 relative to the jaws l8 which have been arrested by engagement with the garment. The holder is frictionally connected by a split friction ring to the die holder l9 contained within die spindle 20. A heavy spring 2! within the spindle engaging the other end of the die holder l9 serves to cushion the dies to prevent breakage in the event excessive resistance is encountered as where maximum advance of the dies is prevented by a plurality of thicknesses of cloth at the point of attachment. The spring of course is not intended to yield under stresses normally required to upset or curl the fastener prongs inside the button.

Associated with the lower die l5 are fastener jaws 22 (Fig. 8) resiliently pressed together by spring 23 to hold a fastener at the attaching .point. The jaws are adapted to be separated or cammed apart by the rising die IE to release the fastener upon attachment. Such release is not effected of course until after the fastener prongs have penetrated the cloth which thereby serves to prevent displacement of the fastener.

The operation of the upper and lower dies is effected by levers 24 and 25 whose movement is coordinated by appropriate mechanism such for example as that shown in Clark Patents Nos. 1,798,969 and 1,798,970.

It will be noted that the attaching point is located a substantial distance in front of the main body of the machine and that a substantial :open space 26 (Fig. 6) behind the attaching point and directly behind the upper die is provided to receive a bulky garment or the like during attaching operation. Also it will be noted that no mechanism is located adjacent the projecting portion of the structure which supports the at:- taching dies, to interfere with the free manipulation of a garment by the operator to bring a particular portion thereof into attaching position. As will presently appear, although the fasteners are advanced from the rear a substantial distance to the attaching point (Figs. 14, 15 and 16) other.

the feeding mechanism is designed to avoid substantial vibration at high speed. Buttons are fed from the rear by a raceway leading downwardly to the button holder in such a way as not to obstruct the open space 26 or the accessibility of the dies from all points. The buttons are introduced into the button holder from the side by a laterally oscillating placing mechanism whose operation though in phase with the fastener feeding mechanism is at right angles thereto.

This coupled with the circumstance that the amplitude. of oscillation of both fastener and button. placer are very small, materially reduces vibration and correspondingly increases the life of the machine;

As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 7, the fasteners are contained in bulk in promiscuous relationship inside a feeding hopper comprising a hollowrotating cone 2'! having in its rim inclined slots 28 adapted to permit the passage of a fastener therein when arranged as shown at 29 (Fig. 7) with one prong in advance of the A'more'detailed description of the structure and operation of a fastener hopper may be found in said Clark Patent No. 1,798,970. The cone in the present instance rotates in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 3), and when the slots 28 reach the point 30 any fasteners therein are adapted to escape (Fig. 5) into the raceway 3|. Spaced covers or guides 32 and 33 over the raceway channel cooperate to maintain fasteners in column and to guide them along with one prong in advance of the other. The prongs project through the gap between the covers. channel is shaped to permit'the free travel of the fastener heads while withholding them against substantial relative displacement.

A circular stationary flange 34 (Fig. 7) is advantageously provided to prevent the escape from the hopper of fasteners having an excessivelythick head or one too thick to pass under the flange, thereby preventing fasteners of this type from possibly causing trouble elsewhere in the machine. The flange extends around the inside of the hopper but is interrupted at 35 where the fastener filling passage 36 enters the hopper. Thus the fasteners which do not or cannot leave the slots and enter the raceway from the point 30 to 35 along the circumference of the hopper (Fig. 5), fall back into the hopper when the slot within which they travel reaches the point 35 where the gap in the flange 34 occurs.

A fastener mass agitator 31 is provided inside the cone to insure adequate agitation of the mass A section of the raceway 3| is remov-ably connected to the hopper structure by screws 39. Its lower end is positioned by pin 40 (Fig. 18). A shield 4| adjacent the lower portion of the raceway is provided to prevent engagement of a garment or the like with the fastener prongs and thereby interrupt movement of the fasteners in the raceway.

It is important to note that from the time the fasteners leave the hopper until they reach the passage 38 from which they are advanced without furter adjustment to attaching position, it is not necessary to rotate them transversely of their direction of travel. In other words, a twisted or spiral raceway is not necessary to effect delivery of the fastener in properly ad- It will be understood that the raceway 3 justed position to passage 38 where travel down the curved surface 42, as presently .described, locates the fastener in properly adjusted position relative to the attaching dies.

The length of passage 38 is made adequate to allow ample separation of the attaching dies from the main body of the machine to facilitate the work of the operator as aforesaid. It is adapted to hold a column of fasteners arranged one prong in advancejof the other extending substantially from the raceway to the attaching point, which column is advanced periodically by a distance equivalent approximately to the di- "ameter of a fastener head, so that the leading fastener may be located in attaching position. The column of fasteners is advanced in the present instance by a blade 43 whose end is shaped (Figs. 14, 15 and 16), to engage both the rear fastener prong as well as the rim of the fastener head. In its forward position the blade intersects the fastener passage (Fig. 14).

To isolate the leading fastener in attaching position from the column-of fasteners, a plunger 4% is arranged below the horizontal line of fasteners (Figs. 14 and 17), and in the present instance the fastener heads rest directly upon the flat surface of the plunger. Blade 43 and plunger 44 are adapted to operate together. On their rearward movement, the blade uncovers the passage 38 allowing another fastener to enter (as presently explained) and the forward end of plunger A l is'pulled from beneath the leading 'fastener, allowingit to drop into a shallow depression 45 level with the top of die I5. To prevent the retraction of the fasteners with plunger M, apair of pins 46 (Fig. 15) project into the passage 38 just behind the head of the leading fastener and the rear fastener respectively. The forward pin prevents retraction of the leading "fastener and the rear pin prevents any substantial retraction of the column of fasteners. The pins are carried upon fiat leaf springs 41 which are sufificiently light and resilient not to interfere substantially with the advancement of the next fastener. Upon the forward motion of plunger 46 the fastener in position dB (Fig. 16) is engaged by the plunger and advanced through a short distance to attaching position between the holding jaws 22 in alignment with the die l5 (Fig.

14). The front end of plunger 44 is advantageously shaped to support the fastener, having a slot 49 to receive the fastener legs and undercut as at 56 to receive the fastener head and prevent the fastener from tipping under the resistance encountered when the prongs enter the jaws 22. Inwardly extending projections 5| (Figs. 14 and 15) are provided to prevent the .iaccidental escape of the leading fastener in the column from the front end of passageway 38.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the amplitude of oscillation of the blade 43 and plunger 4:3 is quite small (see Figs. 14 and 16) and not substantially greater than the diameter of the'fastener head. With such small amplitude of oscillation, vibrationat high speed is considerably minimized. As here shown the blade and plunger are connected to slide 52 by means of rivets 53. The latteris reciprocated by lever 5d having an elongated slot 55 which is engaged by roll 56 carried on slide 52 (Fig. 5). The stud til on which roll 56 is mounted is eccentric (being held in adjusted position by set'screw 58) to permit an adjustment of the ends of the blade 43 and plunger 44 to locate a fastener exactly iinalignment with its die l5.

' Lever 541is pivoted on'shaft 59 and carries at 1 its lower end roll 60 which isoscillated back and forth-by enga ement with rotaryzcam 6|.

eneral arrangement of the main driving mechanism is described in detail insaid Clark patents.

-,-A spring pressed plunger 62 engages lever 54 to The . hold the same in operative engagement with cam Thehorizontally projecting arm 63 which carries the fastener passageway 38 is detachably connected to the machine frame by screws 64 (Fig. 18). One section 65 of the former is made premovable to expose the column of fasteners in guideway 38. The section 65 is held in position by thumb screw 66., The guideway 38 is lined by spacers 61 and 68 which are shaped to provide a relatively wide passage 6.9 for the upper portions ofthe prongs and a relatively narrow one at .10 adjacent the base. of the fastener prongs to hold the latter in alignment.

ends of the prongs may be slightly skewed or out Thus the upper of exactalignment without interfering with the feeding of the fasteners. Below the members 61 andBB is the space H through which the fastener .heads travel.

It will be noted (Figs. 14 to 16) that the upper surface of blade .43 controls the release of fastenors from the raceway into-passage'38. To al- .low the release of only one fastener at a time, a

and upon release, to propel the lowest fastener -.quickly into the passageway 3B. The delay incident to thesoperationof gravity in transferring a fastener :to a position in front of the blade 43 (Fig. 16) is thus eliminated. The curved surface .42 joining the raceway with the horizontal passage 38 may advantageously be polished to facilitate thetravel of the fastener when projected by the dropper.

When the blade 43 again intersects the fastener passageway (Fig. 14) the dropper may be raised into; operative position relative to the next fastener. As 'here'shown, this is effected by lever 15 whose forward end engages the dropper (Figs. 14 --to 16) and whose rear end is engaged by the tapered or inclined slot 16 (Figs. 6 and 7) inv Thus slide 52. Lever 15 ispivoted on stud 11.

; upon the forward movement of slide 52 (at which time blade 43 intersects the fastener passageway) the cam surface 16 engages lever 15 and causes it to raise dropper l2 and compress spring 13, thus allowing the column of fasteners to rest upon the 8 upper surface of the blade. Upon reverse travel of the blade, the dropper engages the fastener head, and when the blade is withdrawn from the passageway, the resistance of the fastener is released and it is shot forward into the horizontal passage 38 under the impulse of spring 13. The forward advance of the dropper closes it against the further advance of fasteners and holds the same iuntil blade 43 again advances.

The buttons are supplied from a similar conical hopper 18 opposite the fastener hopper and supported on and rotated by the same shaft and a driving mechanism. The periphery of the cone carries a ring 19 having therein a plurality of radialpassages whose shape corresponds with the superficial contour of the button to be fed by the hopper. In the present case the caps have a slightly convex top, and the passages in the ring are arranged to permit the escape of a cap 'i the course of the buttons from that of the downr when arranged with its top toward the setting dies. When so arranged, the caps can escape into the raceway 8| whose channelis shaped to hold a column of buttons or caps, as the-case 1 may be, with their tops all facing in the same 83 and 84, andis removably-connected at its upper end to the hopper'by'a'; screw 85 and at its lower end 86 by screw BI to a boss 88 (Figs. 4 and extending outwardly from the machine frame. Continuing the raceway passage from the point 86 into close proximity with the setting dies is a curved or arcuate passage 89 formed in an arcuate flange 99 on plate 9|, the latter being attach'e'd by screws 92 to the front of the machine (Figs. 5, 8 to 13). The arcuate passage changes ward inclined raceway to one extending'transversely of the machine or at right angles to the direction of the fastener passageway 38. The passage in flange 90' is covered by removable covers 93, 94 spaced to permit access to the lower face of. the caps or buttons (Figs..10 to 13). The covers. terminateiat 95 (Fig. 9)'just short of the end of the passageway adjacent the setting dies,

of its direction oftravel;

The buttons fall by gravity through the race way passageway and its continuation until they engage a stop in the .form of'a' retractable pin 96 projecting a short distanceinto the passageway and adapted to engage a button rim and to prevent further movement under influence of gravity toward .the setting point. 'Pin 96 is carried by leaf spring 91 and may therefore be cammed back by the button rim to release a button forcibly advanced through the passageway.

The button or cap placing mechanism is here shown in the formof an oscillating arm 98 carrying a spring pressed pin 99 adapted to engage a button or cap centrally (Figs. 8 'to 13) and carry it past the pin 95 into the button holding jaws I8. Pin 99 is' supported on leaf spring I00 screwed at IOI to the horizontally. extending portion or head I92 of arm98. The button engaging extremity of the pin is provided with a beveled'eccentric prong I93 (Figs. lltand 12) adapted to enter the cavity inside the button adjacentthe .bar I2 (Fig. If the button be turned so that the bar extends transversely of prong I93 (as shown in Fig. 11) the spring I00 is adapted to yield and yet to press the pin upwardly to enter the button when the latter is turned slightly. Upon the forward advance of arm 98 the leading button is draw-n past pin'96 and carried into button-holding jaws I8. If the pin engages a bar as shown in Fig.. 11 the cam action of the beveled face of prong,l 03 lcoupled button bar.

.9I operatively engages arm 98 at I09. constrained to oscillate in a substantially arcuate .of arm IIO operates. movementof slide I06 the arm 98 together with pin 99 is first moved downwardly to the limit of with the turning movement set up by the resistance of pin 96 at one margin of the button cause the button to turn sufficiently to allow the prong I03 to enter partly into the space alongside the I03 completes the rotation of the button until the bar extends longitudinaly of the passageway and, as will be apparent, transversely of the plane of the fastener prong in attaching position. Pin

99 is tapered downwardly slightly to allow some slight play relative to head I02 when engaging a button bar to facilitate entry into the button cavity sufiiciently to induce the rotation necessary to bring the button in predetermined position. It .will be understood that unless the bar I2 lie absolutely transversely of the prong I03 as in Fig. 11, forward advance of the pin is generally not neces- Sary to effect entry of prong I03 and consequent rotation of the button, the latter being accomplished by the upward pressure of the pin coupled with the camming action of the beveled prong.

A flange I04 may advantageously be provided on head I02 to serve as a support for a rivet cap or the like in its movement towards setting position.

The general arrangement of the foregoing mechanism is not substantially changed for handling of buttons, as shown in Fig. 13. Head I02 may however advantageously be provided with a flange I95 to engage the shank of the button and assist its movement toward the button holder.

Arm 98 is operated by lever 54 whose extremity 4 engages slide I96 (Fig. 6) which reciprocates vertically in channel I01. A stud I08 carried by slide I96 and projecting through a slot in'plate Arm 98 is path by arm IIO pivoted about stud III projecting from plate 9|. The curved path of travel is substantially concentric with the arcuate passageway in flange 90. Arm IIfl has a lost motion connection with arm 98 by reason of the slightly elongated slot H2 in arm 98 in which stud II3 Thus on the downward slot I I2 before it swings laterally toward the right to engage the next button. Also upon the commencement of upward travel of slide I06 the arm 98 and pin 99 travel upwardly until the bottom of slot H2 is reached before swinging movement to the left commences. Such upward or radial travel causes the pin 99 to be brought into operative engagement with the next button. A friction arm I I0 has swung to the bottom of its oscillatory path (Fig. 5) to place a button in the holder, the

I arm 98 is moved downwardly to withdraw pin 99 from engagement with the button before oscillation in the opposite direction commences. When arm I I0 is at the top of its swing, pin 99 is moved inwardly to engage abutton before movement in the opposite direction commences.

, It will be noted that the amplitude of oscillation of arm 98 is small and is only sufficiently greater than the diameter of the button or cap head to allow adequate travel for any necessary rotation of the button to bring the bar into pre- --determined position. Also the plane of oscillation of arm 98 and the associated mechanism is The ensuing cam action of prong transverse of the plane of oscillation of the fastener placing mechanism. Hence vibration of the machine at high speed is very substantially minimized since the vibratory forces of the fastener and button placing mechanism cannot be cumulative (even though they be in phase) since they are at right angles to each other.

A pulley guard I I? connected to lever shaft 59 is provided for preventing contact of the garment with the rotating clutch pulley to protect it from becoming soiled (Fig. 4).

Obviously the invention is notlimited to the details of the illustrative construction since these may be variously modified. Moreover it is not indispensable that all features of the invention be used conjointly since various features may be used to advantage in different combinations and subcombinations.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination a machine frame having a pair of projecting supports for upper and lower attaching dies, said supports being spaced to provide a substantial open space behind said upper die and between said dies and said machine frame within which to manipulate a garment, fastener feeding mechanism including an oscillating fastener placer for advancing fasteners from said frame forwardly to said lower die, said fastener placer having an amplitude of oscillation not substantially greater than the diameter of a fastener head and adapted to advance a column of fasteners extending forwardly from said frame to said lower attaching die, and button feeding mechanism including an oscillating button placer for feeding buttons laterally to said upper die thereby leaving thespace behind said upper die unobstructed, said button placer oscillating in a plane substantially at right angles to that of said fastener placer, whereby to reduce the vibration of said machine at high speed,

2. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination a machine frame having a pair of projecting supports for upper and lower attaching dies, said supports being spaced to provide a substantial open space behind said upper die and between said dies and said machine frame within which to manipulate a garment, a fastener raceway for conducting fasteners to a point behind said space, a fastener guideway extending from said raceway to saidlower die and adapted to guide a column of fasteners to said lower die, an oscillating fastener placer having anamplitude of oscillation substantially less than the length of said guideway for advancing said fasteners tosaid lower die, and button feeding mechanism includingan oscillating button placer for feeding buttons later-.

ally to said upper die thereby leaving the space behind said upper die unobstructed,. said button placer oscillating in a plane substantially at right angles to that of said fastener placer, whereby toreduce the vibration of said machine at high speed.

3. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination attaching mechanism, a device located to the rear of said attaching mechanism for delivering a column of double pronged fasteners with their prongs directed toward the attaching mechanism, a substantially horizontal fastener guideway leading forward from said column of fasteners to said attaching mechanism and adapted to receive fasteners from said column and to guide a substantially horizontal column of said fasteners with one prong in advance of the other to the attaching mechanism, and means for periodically advancing said horizontal column independently of said first named column to deliver the leading fastener of said horizontal column to the attaching mechanism with one prong in advance of 5.

the other.

4. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination attaching dies having button and fastener holders associated therewith, fastener and button raceways approaching said dies from directions in planes at right angles to each other, an oscillating fastener placing member for advancing a single fastener and placing it in the fastener holder, said fastener placing member having an amplitude of oscillation not substantially greater than the diameter of the fastener head, an oscillating button placing member for placing a single button in the button holder including means for rotating the button as it is advanced by said placing member, said 20 button placing member oscillating in a plane at right angles to that of said fastener placing memher and in phase with the latter and having a relatively small amplitude of oscillation.

5. An attaching machine of the character de- 25 scribed comprising in combination a machine frame having a pair of projecting supports for upper and lower attaching dies, said supports being constructed and arranged to provide a substantial open space between said dies and said 30 machine frame within which to manipulate a garment, the support for said lower die having a forwardly extending guideway for guiding a col-- umn of contiguous fasteners to said lower die, a raceway for delivering fasteners to said guideway, and a reciprocating slide having an ampli tude of oscillation substantially less than the length of said guideway adapted in its retracted position wholly to clear said raceway to allow a fastener to enter said guideway and to engage the 40 said column and on its forward stroke to engage the said trailing fastener and thereby to advance the entire column of fasteners through a. short distance to place the leading fastener in operative relation to said lower die.

6. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination a machine frame having a pair of projecting supports for upper and lower attaching dies, said supports being spaced to provide a substantial open space behind said upper die and between said dies and said machine frame within which to manipulate a garment, button supply means, a raceway leading from said supply means direct to said upper attaching die, an oscillating placing member for moving the leading button into attaching position, a device adjacent the attaching mechanism for restraining the column of buttons from advance beyond said point independently of said placing member, and means for advancing a fastener to 60 said lower die.

'7. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination attaching mechanism, button supply means, a raceway leading from said supply means direct to said attaching mechanism, a device adjacent the attaching mechanism for restraining the column of buttons from advance, and an oscillating placing member carrying a camming device for eccentrically engaging the leading button to advance it to attachi frame having a forwardly projecting support car- I 6 rying an attaching 'die, said support having a forwardly extending fastener guideway leading to said die, a fastener raceway connected with the rear end of said guideway, a reciprocating slide for advancing said fasteners in said guideway and adapted to clear said raceway in its retracted position, a releasing device associated with said raceway for releasing one fastener at a time into saidguideway, and means operable when said slide is in its retracted position for forcibly projectingthe released fastener into said guideway at a speed substantially greater than could be attained by the fastener under the force of gravity.

9 An attaching machine of the character described. comprising in combination a machine frame having a forwardly projecting support carryingan attaching die, said support having a forwardly extending fastener guideway leading to said die, a fastener raceway connected with the rear end of said guideway, a fastener advancing device adapted periodically to enter said guideway in front of said raceway to advance a fastener toward said die, a releasing device associated with said raceway for releasing one fastener at a time into said guideway, and movable means operable during the interval when said advancing device has withdrawn from said guideway to give the released fastener an impulse which projects it at high speed a substantial distance beyond the limit of movement of said means into said guideway to a position in front of said advancing device.

10. Anattaching machine of the character described comprising in combination a machine frame having a forwardly projectingsupport carrying an attaching die, said support having a forwardly extending fastener guideway leading to said die, a reciprocating fastener placing plunger forming the bottom of said guideway upon which a column of contiguous fasteners rests, means for checking the rearward travel of the leading fastener whereby the latter is adapted to drop in front of the plunger when the latter recedes, and means for advancing said plunger to carry the said leading fastener to said die.

11. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination a machine frame having a forwardly projecting support carrying an attaching die, said support having a forwardly extending fastener guideway leading to said die, a reciprocating fastener placing plunger forming the bottom of said guideway upon which a column of contiguous fasteners rests, means for checking the rearward travel of the leading fastener whereby the latter is adapted to drop in front of the plunger when the latter recedes, and a blade engaging the trailing fastener to advance the entire column to place the leading fastener in operative relation to said checking means.

12. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination a machine frame having a forwardly projecting support carrying an attaching die, said support having a forwardly extending fastener guideway leading to said die, a fastener raceway connected with the rear end of said guideway, a reciprocating member adapted periodically to enter said guideway below said raceway to advance fasteners in said guideway and to support a column of fasteners in said raceway and prevent the same from entering said guideway, and means for checking said column of fasteners above the bottom fastener to permit the latter only to enter said guiderying a camming device for eccentrically engagof said member thereing the leading button to advance it to attaching position and adapted to rotate the button into a predetermined position, and means for moving said camming device transversely after the button has been placed in attaching position to clear 1 the button to permit return of said placing member;

14. An attaching machine of the character de scribed comprising upper and lower attaching dies, a button supply device, a button raceway 2 leading downward from said supply device to the upper attaching die, the terminal portion of said raceway being curved substantially on the arc of a circle, a retractable device projecting into said raceway to prevent accidental escape of but- 2 tons, a button placing device mounted to swing in an are substantially from the center of curvature of said raceway terminal portion, said placing device having an'amplitude of oscillation not substantially greater than the diameter of a but- 3 ton head,'means for'actuating said placing device to engage the leading button and move the same through said curved terminal portion to the attaching mechanism, and means for advancing a fastener to said lower attaching die. 3

-15. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination attaching mechanism, button supply means, a raceway leading from said supply means direct to said attaching mechanism and adapted to hold a column of buttons having a bar or the like therein for receiving fastener prongs, an oscillating placing member for moving the leading button into attaching position, a device adjacent the attaching mechanism for restraining the column of buttons from advance beyond said point independently of said placing member, and an oscillating placing member having an eccentric beveled projection adapted to engage the button and carry it from said restraining device to the attaching mechanism and adapted to engage the button bar and bycam action to rotate the button until the bar occupies a predetermined position before the same reaches attaching position.

16. An attachingmachine of the character described comprising in combination attaching mechanism, a button raceway leading to said attaching mechanism and adapted to carry a column of buttons having bars therein for attachmentby pronged fasteners, a resilient'check- 6 ing device projecting into said raceway adjacent the attaching position to engage the leading button therein and arrest further advance, an oscillating placing device having a projection for engaging the button and carrying it past the checking device to the attaching-mechanism, said projection cooperating with said checking device to rotate the button, and means for arresting rotation of said button when the latter is in prede- 7 termined position.

17. An attaching machine of the character described comprising in combination attaching mechanism, a button raceway leading to said attachingmechanism and adapted'to carryma column of buttons having bars therein for attachment by pronged fasteners, a resilient checking device projecting into said raceway adjacent the attaching position to engage the leading button therein and arrest further advance, an oscillating placing device having a projection for engaging the button and carrying it past the checking device to the attaching mechanism, said projection cooperating with said checking device to rotate the button, means for arresting rotation of said button when the latter is in predetermined position, and means for shifting said placing device at the limits of its travel to withdraw said projection from the button after advance to attaching position and to permit its entry into another button.

WILLIAM O. HANSEN.

MERLIN L. BOWEN. 

